When to test for ADHD?

I've put off having my daughter tested for ADHD since her teacher last year didn't notice any signs. However, her teacher this year has commented on a few problems that I think may be ADHD symptoms, such as inability to sit still (constantly wiggling right off her chair) and singing or humming constantly during class. She gets good grades and is the best reader in her class so academically there are no problems. She is 6 and in kindergarten, btw. When she's with me and had daycare she has the same problem with not being able to sit still. While out in stores, she runs off all the time and even after warnings and punishments she has no concept of needing to stay near me. So, i'm finally to the point of wanting to get her tested to see if she's just a very active child or whether she does have a medical condition that causes her to act this way. She's acted this way as long as I can remember though it has somewhat improved as she's aged. Would it be better to get her tested before this school year is out, over the summer, or wait and see how she does next school year?

I've tried reasoning with her on the running off and explaining stranger danger, but she seems to forget it as soon as we walk through the store's door.

Here is your choice - one of the people answering said - hey I was just like that - so wait.

The other side of the coin is with early intervention (whatever is impacting her) can make a huge difference and she will be better prepared when the work gets harder.

Many kids with early interventions - actually exit out of special education not because they have grown out of it but because they learned the strategies they needed to be successful.

Some of what you mentioned could be in several disability categories so test away - keep and open mind and then take the outside report and bring it to school so they can also evaluation within the context of the education setting.

A lot of kids with ADHD get very good grades at school simply because they are intelligent and don't really need to concentrate (I know I did).
I would recommend getting her tested as soon as you can.
With the running off in supermarkets, have you tried sitting her down and explaining exactly why she should not do it? Some kids just respond better to reasoning than telling.

I have AD HD I got tested in grade 2. get tested by grade 1 or 2
when shes a bit older you know.

6 years old is still pretty young. If I were you I would volunteer and sit in her classroom at the teachers desk and do some work for the teacher. Just casually observe how she acts, and how the other kids act. Get an idea of what the other kids are like her age in the same situation.

6 years old and in kindegarten is just way too young. I would give her until age 8 before she was tested. (assuming she is doing well in school and not getting in too much trouble). Just stay on top of it and observe for yourself.

maybe the teacher can do some things that will help her stay still longer. Like be a little bit more active in being an assistant to the teacher. Some breaks in the times when she is supposed to be sitting still.

have your active kid be really busy. when you shop have them put the food in the cart and push the cart. When they are in the car have a bag of stuff for them to play with while you drive. etc.

i think you should put it off.
she's six years old, when i was 6 years old i was the same way.
you cant imagine how much i drove my mother up the wall.

i think add and adhd are overly diagnosed. children have short attention spans, they dont listen, and they run around way too much. i say wait until she's in 3rd grade to get her tested.

my kindergarten teacher also had some negative things to say about me. even going as far to say that i should be held back! my parents chose not to and the next year in first grade my teacher had nothing but praise and suggested i move into gifted support or possibly move a grade up.

im not saying your daughter doesnt have adhd, it is possible. but waiting 2 years won't be life threatening. and if she is mis-diagnosed you dont know how those drugs could harm her.